In the world of football coaching, we often obsess over a player’s current output: how many goals they score or how fast they run. But according to the late Bertie Mee, legendary former Arsenal manager and Watford Assistant Manager and Director, true talent identification isn’t just about what a player is today; it’s about who they have the will to become.

Drawing from Mee’s historical insights, here are the three pillars of recognising elite potential in young players.

1. Physicality is a Variable, Personality is a Constant

Mee famously divided player assessment into two categories: Physical and Personality.

While scouts look for “pace, balance, and co-ordination,” Mee argued that physical stature at age 13 or 14 is often misleading. A “six-stone weakling” can develop the physique of a professional over time. However, the personality factor is much harder to influence.

Mee’s “under 40 vs. over 40” rule is a fascinating takeaway for modern coaches:

The Younger Perspective: Often looks only at physical qualities, believing they can “fix” a lazy or inconsistent player through training.

The Experienced Perspective: Recognises that if a player lacks the inner drive at 14, they likely won’t survive the professional ranks.

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2. The “Does He Want to Play?” Test

This is a particular favourite of mine, especially in the modern game. Mee suggests that the most important question a coach can ask isn’t “Can he play?” but rather “Does he want to play?” This goes beyond basic interest. He defines “wanting to play” through a series of litmus tests:

Does he want to play hard enough?

Is he a winner?

Does he only want to play when the sun is out and the referee is favouring him?

Does he fade out of the game when things get difficult?

The Lesson: Skills like passing and shooting mean nothing unless they are “harnessed to the right personality.”

3. The Ethical Duty of a Club

Obviously more focused on the professional game, but one of the most refreshing aspects of Mee’s philosophy was his focus on the welfare of the person, not just the player. At Watford, where he was more involved in the scouting and youth program, he emphasised:

Education First: Mee famously encouraged young players to prioritise university and academic life alongside football.

Preparing for Failure: Mee acknowledged the harsh reality that many apprentices won’t make the grade. He saw it as a club’s duty to help those players find a living elsewhere, rather than just “blocking” their path.

Environment Matters: To win talent away from “Big” clubs, Mee focused on the environment, ensuring parents knew their sons were in “good hands” with a focus on moral and educational welfare.

A lot of these lessons enabled Watford to secure the talent of a young John Barnes, who was due to return to Jamaica with his family, but stayed with the club as a very young player away from home.

Key Takeaway for Modern Coaches

Talent identification isn’t just about finding the best player on the pitch today. It’s about finding the player with the temperament to handle rejection, the discipline to train when no one is watching, and a support system that values them as a human being.

As Mee put it: “Those qualities (skill) mean nothing unless harnessed to the right personality.”

No Hunger in Paradise

The thoughts of Bertie Mee on young footballers were taken from an interview in the book – A Tale of the Unexpected by Geoff Sweet and Graham Burton.

Read more about the modern game and youth football with Michael Calvin’s excellent book – No Hunger In Paradise.